Thurston to lead dance of support

COWBOYS champion Johnathan Thurston will lead other indigenous footballers in performing an on- field war dance this weekend in support of Adam Goodes.

Thurston last night threw his support behind a call by former NRL player David Peachey for “indigenous brothers and sisters in every code, every level of every Australian sport ( to) get up and do any dance they want in support of Adam”.

Goodes was yesterday reported to be considering retiring from AFL due to repeated booing at matches – a crowd response that began after he performed an on- field “war” dance where he threatened opposition fans with an imaginary spear.

Thurston – whose Cowboys play Canberra on Saturday – last night said: “I’ll show my respect for Adam and not only all the indigenous athletes but all the indigenous people with a little move on the weekend if I am lucky enough to score.”

Fellow Maroon Greg Inglis also indicated he would support Peachey’s plan – retweeting a fan’s request that he “take a stand on racism this weekend” by doing a war dance if he scored a try against the Panthers. The plan also won the support of rugby league’s top Aboriginal official, ARL Indigenous Council chair Linda Burney.

“I think ( the booing) is clearly racist and combines with tall poppy syndrome,’’ Ms Burney said.

“You have a proud indigenous man who puts his head up … and this happens.

“That’s why I hope players will shake a leg to support Goodsey this weekend.’’

Peachey – a community employee of the NRL – also called for the crowd at AFL games to drown out the “minority’’ of abusive barrackers of Goodes with cheers of support.

“This is how we take this back, reclaim a sport and a society that has come so far in recent years but evidently still has a ways to go,’’ he said.